Outdoor advertising structure



Feb. 11, 1936. H. DE ROULET 2,030,505

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 31 1954- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 11, 1936. E LET 2,030,505

OUTDOOR ADVERTI S ING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 51, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 will! iiiii I I 8% I IZVQENTOR 1y Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURE Henry de Roulet, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to 20th Century Advertising, Inc., a. corporation of California Application January 31, 1934, Serial No. 709,067

8 Claims.

This invention relates in general to advertising media such as are employed at outdoor locations, but more particularly to a structure and advertising medium comprising a portable proscenium behind which is an elongated enclosure for housing the elements of my system; a translucent screen adjustably mounted within the proscenium and arranged to be adjusted forwardly or backwardly or inclined to a suitable degree; and a portable booth within said enclosure adapted to enclose a motion picture projection unit and capable of being adjusted relative to said screen.

The structure is particularly adapted for displaying continuous animated advertisements and ordinary motion picture presentations, wherein the projecting machines are automatically or manually operated for given periods of time, and the character, form and arrangement of the structure is such that it is readily adaptable to difierent locations and varying conditions.

Another object is to so arrange the structure that the projecting machine will be completely housed against unauthorized access, and that all possibility of interfering lights between the projecting unit and the screen may be eliminated, and direct rays of sunlight or artificial light may be prevented from projection upon the front of the screen.

To the end that the above objects may be attained it is desirable to provide a structure having a proscenium in which a translucent screen is substantially recessed from the face of the structure, and is adjustable within a substantial range horizontally and may be inclined to a substantial extent, for the purpose of obtaining the best possible results either in the daytime or night-time. Preferably, a canopy is provided at the front of the structure above the screen and at the front of the proscenium for eliminating the direct rays of the sun from the picture screen, and at night said canopy also serves to prevent the projection of rays from street lights on to the screen. Thus, the position of the screen in the proscenium depends upon the position of the sun in daytime or the street lights at night.

This invention contemplates also the provision of means for tilting the screen to a substantial extent, so for instance, that the lower margin thereof may be more remote from the front of the structure than the upper margin thereof; and moreover, the provision of novel means for sup,- porting a translucent screen of necessarily fragile character in such a manner that it may not be damaged by usage and adjustment.

A still further object is to provide means in front of and for enclosing the screen against access when the structure is not in use.

In general, an object is to provide a structure for the purpose described which is highly ornamental and sightly, economical in original and maintenance costs, and is capable of use for high class and attractive advertising presentations, in lieu of the commonplace and too often unsightly bill boards now in general use. Such a system will permit the presentation of one, several or a large number of animated advertisements for sustained periods of time at regular or irregular intervals, in daylight or at night, or both day and night, and frequent changes in the character of the advertisements which are not possible in bill board 7 advertising systems.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, subject, however, to modification within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the structure showing the form and arrangement of the several elements of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the translucent screen and the mounting therefor;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the structure as seen from the front;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section, in elevation, of the proscenium;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary face view of the screen and means for adjustably mounting the same in position for use.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the proscenium doors and the mounting therefor.

Briefly described my structure includes a proscenium I with an elongated portable enclosure 2 at the rear thereof in which a motion picture projection unit 3 is housed in a separate adjustable fireproof booth 4, so that motion pictures may be projected upon the rear surface of a translucent screen 5 which is adjustably mounted in an opening 6 of the proscenium.

The proscenium is of highly ornamental character, as shown in perspective in Fig. 6, and may be constructed of metal or wood, but in all events preferably in sections so that it may be portable, and thus readily transported from one location to another. A large opening 6 is provided in the l proscenium for the reception of the screen 5 and the framing of the structure is such that ample depth is provided for the opening 6 to simulate a stage such as is used in dramatic presentations. The depth of the opening 6, however, permits the recession of the screen 5 substantially rearwardly of the face of the structure so as tov prevent the interference of daylight or artificial lights with presentations on the screen 5.

A substantially wide canopy 1 is provided at the front of the structure which overhangs the opening 6 and is adapted to prevent the direct rays of sunlight from projection upon the screen 5. The front wall 8 of the proscenium has an opening 9 therein of slightly larger area than the opening 6 and said opening 9 is adapted to be closed by means of a plurality of sliding doors III, III, etc.

The doors ID are slidably supported at their upper edges by means of rollers II which operate over tracks I2, and are guided at their lower edges by means of rails 13, as shown in Fig. 9. Said doors, as in other doors of this type, are movable in different planes so that when they are close-d the adjacent doors will be slightly overlapped. Suitable means may be provided for locking the doors so as to enclose the screen 5 against unauthorized access and consequent in- J y.

The screen 5 is usually made of delicate and fragile material and it is necessary to protect the same against damage which may be due to warping, expansion or contraction occasioned by change in temperature or humidity, and to this end I have provided a novel and effective means for adjustably mounting the screen in the opening 6 of the proscenium. Said means consists in the provision of an outer frame M and an inner frame 15 of rectangular form and arranged one within the other and slightly spaced apart. The outer frame is preferably formed of metal and the inner frame of wood. The adjacent members of the two frames are adjustably connected by means of bolts or clamps IS. The marginal portions of the screen 5 are covered with a suitable fabric I! which is provided on each edge with a plurality of grommets 3. Similarly the inner frame I5 has perforations I9, and a suitable lacing 20 may be threaded through the grommets l8 and perforation I9, as shown in Fig. 8, for flexibly connecting the screen with the inner frame l5. The lacing 20 is preferably elastic so as to compensate for any expansion, contraction or warping which may occur in the screen for any reason.

The outer frame l4 supports a rectangular valance 2| which is suitably attached to the sides of said outer frame and its inner margins are disposed inwardly of and overlie the margins of the screen 5, so as to obscure the screen mountings from the front of the screen. A pair or more of attaching brackets 22 are secured to the upper rail of the frame II for adjustable connection with a plurality of longitudinal rails which are secured to the top of the opening 6, or

at points thereabove within the proscenium "structure. Said rails have a series of perforations 24 adapted to selectively receive bolts 25 carried by the members 22, as shown in Fig. 4.

The lower rails of frame l4 have attaching members 26 secured thereto which slidably engage the upper flanges 21 of guides 28 of I cross section which are suitably secured to the floor 29 of the'proscenium and the flanges 21 of said members 23 are perforated at 30, 30, etc. to selectively receive bolts 3| carried by the members 25. Thus, the screen and its inner and outer frame are commonly adjustable in the opening 6 on the guides 23 and 26 to the same or a different extent, so as to position the screen at a suitable incline in said opening.

Usually the screen is tilted, as shown in Fig. '7, so that the lower margin thereof is more remote from the face of the proscenium than the upper edge, in order to shade the screen from the direct rays of the sun in daylight or from overhanging electric lights at night. Recesses 32, 32 are provided at the ends of the opening 6 in the proscenium wings 33, 33, for receiving and housing the doors I when they are open.

In operation, the doors II] are opened and the screen 5 is adjusted to a desirable angle and position horizontally of the opening 6 which will suificiently recess the screen so as to substantially shade the screen from direct rays of sunlight or artificial light. The projecting unit 3 together with its booth 4 is adjusted into proper position within the light proof enclosure 2 relative to the screen, and the operation of the machine is then initiated and continued either automatically or under the control of an operator. The pictures projected upon the reverse side of the screen 5 will be visible through the translucent material of which the screen is made and on the obverse side thereof to persons passing in front of the structure.

It will be apparent that ordinary black and white or colored pictures may be projected upon the screen either by means of a motion picture projecting machine or a stereopticon, and desired changes in the pictures may be made at any time, thereby increasing the advertising value of the apparatus.

What I claim is:

1. An advertisingapparatus comprising a structure formed with a proscenium having an opening therein, a translucent screen mounted in said opening for receiving pictures on the reverse side thereof which are visible on the obverse side thereof, means for horizontally adjusting and for inclining said screen in said opening selectively, and means at the front of said opening .for closing said screen against access.

2. An advertising apparatus comprising a structure formed with a proscenium having an opening therein, a translucent screen adjustably mounted in and recessed from the front of said opening, a composite frame surrounding said screen and formed with separate members flexibly connected for preventing damage to the screen, and means for selectively adjusting the position and inclination of said screen in said opening, for the purpose described.

3. An advertising apparatus comprising a structure formed with a proscenium of substantial depth and having an opening therein, guides secured to margins of said opening, a frame adjustably mounted on said guides, a. translucent screen flexibly mounted on said frame, said frame and said screen being commonly adjustable as to position and inclination in said opening.

4. An advertising apparatus comprising a structure formed with a proscenium of substantial depth and having an opening therein, guides secured to margins of said opening, a frame adjustable on said guides, a screen flexibly held on said frame, said frame and said screenbeing commonly adjustable in said opening, and doors mounted in the front of said opening operative for enclosing said screen against access, at will.

5. An advertising apparatus comprising a structure formed with a proscenium of substantial depth and having an opening therein, guides secured to margins of said opening, a frame adjustable on said guides, a screen, a separate frame secured to the margins of said screen, said frames being flexibly secured together and commonly adjustable together with said screen in said openmg.

6. An advertising apparatus comprising a structure formed with a proscenium of substantial depth and having an opening therein, guides secured to margins of said opening, inner and outer frames flexibly connected, said outer frame being adjustably supported on said guides, said inner frame being secured to the margins of said screens, whereby said frames and said screen may be commonly adjusted to selected positions and at selected inclinations in said opening.

7. An advertising apparatus as characterized in claim 4 including a valance secured to said frame and extended inwardly over the adjacent margins of said screen.

8. An advertising apparatus as characterized in claim 6 including a valance attached to said outer frame and extended inwardly over said inner frame and the adjacent margins of said screen. 

